Improvement in grain and grass harvesters



W. A. K|RBY.

Harvester Cutter.

Patented April 15, 1856.

N. FUER; Pme-mind, was

UNITED STATES- Paretvr WILLIAM A. KIRBY, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

IMPROVEMENTIN GRAIN ANo @Rass Haai/aereas.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent N0. Eit, dated April l5,IRSG.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. A. KIRBY, of But'- falo, in the county of Erieand State ot New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Grain and Grass Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, oi which- Figure lis a top view of the linger-bar, withcutters, Sac., in place; Fig. 2, a perspective view ot' the same,exhibiting the inter-space ofthe cutters on the cutter-bar; Fig. 3, anen d view ot' bar, fingers, 85e.; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section ot' theimproved finger; Fig. 5, a view from the back of tin ger; Fig. 6, atopview of cutters and bar; Fig. 7,.a section of cutters and bar, withprojecting heads ot' rivets.

The nature of my improvements in the cutting apparatus of grain andgrass harvesting machines consists, in the lirst place, in the manner ofattaching the lingers to the fingerbar; and, secondly,it consists in animproved inode ot' constructing the tinger with a recess upon the upperas well as on the lower side ot' the slot, through which projectingheads ot' a rivet uniting the cutter and bar shall enter. This I claimas novel when used with an interspace between the cutter-blades on thebar, peculiar to the manner hereinafter described, as I am aware that aprojecting rivet-head and grooved slot on the lower side have been used,but not with the advantages of my improvement, as I am enabled to use aiinger in which the slot shall wholly embrace the cutter and yet possessthe requisite clearing properties in an'eminent degree.

To enable others skilled in the manufacture to construct my improvedcutting apparatus, I would describe it as follows:

E represents the linger-bar, which may be attached to the frame of theharvester in any suitable manner. Itis constructed of metal, and byhaving its front edge turned upward it forms a ledge, c, at right anglesto the principal portion or flat of the bar. (See Fig. 3.) Instead ofbeing perfectly square at the bend or angle it isl slightly curved forthe better prevention of grass entering the joint, and l'or the moreperfectly securing the lingers on the ledge.

F F are the lingers, formed with a longitudinal slot, r. Near the rearend ot' slot recesses s s are formed, (see Fig. 4,) one being above andthe other below the slot. To the back end ot' each finger a bar, d, isattached, at right angles to the body ot' tinger, and at the ends ot'those bars semicircular recesses 0c .fr are formed for the passage ot'the attaching-bolts c e. The heads ot' those bolts when projecting onthe front side ot' the bar d, serve the purposes ot' guides to thecutter-bar; but iiush head-bolts may be used.

A is the cutter-bar, upon which are secured the cutters D D D. Fachcutter is so placed on the bar as to leave an interspace,f]", betweenthem, and they are secured by two rivets, g g, whose heads or endsproject both above the face or surface ot' the cutter and below theunder side ot' the bar A. It is by means of said projections enteringthe recesses s s ot' the linger, in combination with the space betweenthe cutters, that sot't grass is et'tcctually removed and chokingprevented. rIhis would not be so completely effected il" it were not forthe dropping of said grass between the shoulders formed by each cutteras separated on the bar. (See Fig. 7.)

rIhe advantages I have gained by the mode of constructing my finger-barenables me to use light metal b'. :s strengthened by the projectingledge or liange by this means, also, being enabled to clear moreett'ectually the cut grass from the linger-bar, as the stubble takeshold thereof and thus withdraws it; and by my mode of clearing thecutters and bar by the rivet-heads and interspace ot" the cutters on thebar I am enabled to construct the fingers by casting in a cheap, strong,and simple manner.

I am aware that an angle-iron as a bar for the support of the fingers isnot new; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The manner ot attaching the lingers as constructed with semicircularrecesses tr or, whereby they are secured to the angle-iron iinger-bar bybo1ts,without redueingthe strength In testimony whereof I herewith signmy of bar d of the uger, while the bolts themname before two subscribingwitnesses. selves serving the double purpose of securing the finger andas guides to the cutter-bar, sub- WM. A. KIRBY. stantially as set forth.

2. The use of the rivets y g, when project- Witnesses:

ing above and below the cutters, and used with JOHN F. CLARK, theinterspaeefand recesses s s of the fingers, l as set forth.

JOHN S. HoLLINesHEAD.

